Three dogs die in fire that destroys house

TOWN OF NEWARK—A fire that destroyed a house, garage and two vehicles and killed three dogs Wednesday night remains under investigation, but authorities don't consider the fire to be suspicious, according to a Rock County Sheriff's Office news release.

More than a dozen fire departments responded at 8:28 p.m. Wednesday to 12626 W. Highway 81 in the town of Newark. All of the home's occupants were out when firefighters arrived, but three dogs died in the fire.

A space heater in the garage is suspected as the cause.

The house and two vehicles in the garage are a total loss, and the damage total is estimated at $100,000, according to the sheriff's office.

Highway 81 was closed for more than four hours while firefighters from Orfordville, Evansville, Whitewater, Footville, Fitchburg, Brodhead, Shirland, Brooklyn, Janesville, Edgerton, town of Beloit and Green County EMS plus an emergency trauma doctor worked at the scene.